Reciting Quran in Seven Different Ways

[Sahih Bukhari : Hadith No. 1808]

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab' (Radi Allah Anhu) : I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) and I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited in several different ways which Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam), had not taught me. I was about to jump over him during his salat (prayer), but I controlled my temper, and when he had completed his prayer, I put his upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and said, "Who taught you this Surah which I heard you reciting?" He replied, "Allah' s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) taught it to me."

I said, "You have told a lie, for Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) has taught it to me in a different way from yours." So I dragged him to Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) and said (to Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)), "I heard this person reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way which you haven't taught me!" On that Allah' s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "Release him, (0 'Umar!) Recite, 0 Hisham!" Then he recited in the same way as I heard him reciting, then' Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "It was revealed in this way," and added, "Recite, 0 'Umar!" I recited it as he had taught me.

Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) then said, "It was revealed in this way. This Quran has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever (way) is easier for you (or read as much of it as maybe easy for you)."